Thermal valve



, Sept. 29, 1936.

J. SEAT Y2,055,987

THERMAL VALVE Filed May 18, .1935

. /N VENTO/e B y ya? 1M :fz MM ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented Sept. 29, 1936 THERMAL vALvE Jay Lawrence Seat, Faireld; `Conn.,'assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a-corporationV of New York Application May 18, 1933` Serial No. 671,618 s claims. (ci. 169-41) This invention relates to thermalvalves,v and especially to thermal valves for use vin connection With lire extinguishing systems of the `type disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial N0. 621,223 led July 7, 1932, which has matured into Patent 2,025,782 wherein a fire extinguish ing fluid, such as carbon tetrachloride, is normally stored in the system and is released therefrom when the temperature in the vicinity of a valve increases to a predetermined degree.

Heretofore, thermal valves have been deother end with a valve arrangement which isnormally maintained closed against the action of a spring by a fusible element. When the temthis sort increases to a predetermined degree, the fusible element melts, thereby releasing the spring and automatically opening the valve, and

when the valve is thus opened the lire extinguishing fluid is forced upwardly through the tubular section and against the deflector which serves to break up the stream into a. yspray and to direct the spray thus formed downwardly toward a protected area beneath. In systems-of this sort the water supply is substantially unlimited, hence it is common practice to so design the thermal valves that large quantities of water are quickly discharged therefrom when they are opened. In systems such as is disclosed in my above noted patent, however, the quantity of lire extinguishing iluid is limited and must be used sparingly, consequently such thermal valves are unsatisfactory. Furthermore, during the installation of re extinguishing systems it is frequently desirable to install the thermal valves so that they open from the bottom rather than fromthe top of the distribution pipe, and when this is done with thermal valves, as heretofore designed, the re extinguishing fluid insteadV of being directed downwardly by the deflector toward the area to be protected is directed upwardly and then out.- wardly away-from the areabeneath.

An object of the present vinvention is to provide a thermal valve which automatically opens when the temperature in the vicinity thereof increases Vto a predetermined degree.

YAnother object of the invention is to provide a thermal valve wherein the re extinguishing perature in the vicinity of a thermal valve of I iluldvis sprayed directly therefrom without the aid of the deector when the valve opens.

, Another object of the invention is to provideaj thermalyvalve which is adapted to open eitherV from the top or from the bottom of a distribu- 5 tion pipe of a re extinguishing system.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a thermal valve wherein the discharge of ine extinguishing fluid therefrom may be varied.

, In accordance with the present invention, the above, and other objects, are attained by means of a tubular valve frame or casting, one end of which is adapted to be connected into a distribution pipe of a re extinguishing system. A valve is positioned in this end of the tubular frame and it is normally maintained closed against the action of a spring by a fusible e1e' ment. 'The other end of the tubular frame termihates'i'na removable discharge head which is provided with a. plurality of small discharge 20 openings or ports.Y When the temperature in the vicinity Vof the 'valve increases to a predete'rmineddegr'ee the fusible element melts, thereby releasing the spring and automatically opening the'valve. When the valve is open, the lire extinguishing fluid is forced through the tubu-v lar 'frame ,into the removable discharge head from whence'it isforced outwardly in a desired direction through the small discharge 'openings' or ports without the aid of a deflector.

In the accompanying drawing, the invention is shown merely in preferred form and by way of example, but obviously'many changes and variationsmay be made/therein and incits model of application which will be comprised within its' spirit. It should, therefore, be understood that theinventioii is not limited to any specic form or embodiment, `except in so far as such limitations are' specified in the claims. i

Referring to the drawing: 40

i Fig.` `1 i's'fan elevational view, partially in section, of a valve embodying the principle of the present invention; Y j

Fig. 2 `is a side elevation, in section, taken along theV line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Y

' Fig.'3 is `l a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;,and

Fig. 4is a sectional view taken along the line 4+4fof`Fig. 1. Y

,As shown, the thermal valve comprises a frame orY castingV having two oppositely'disposed U- shaped tubular members I0 and 1I l, which terminate at their lower endsin a single'tubularyalve section I2,.an'd at .their upperends in a single tubulardlschargesection I3. The lower tubular tapered lower end of a valve I'I. A bushing I is threaded into the upper end of the valve section I2 and it serves as a bearing for a valve"stern 2D which is carried by the` valve I'I, andgto aid.- in the assembly of this portionlof the,s truc.ture

the bushing I8 is provided with a plurality of holes I9 which are adapted to receive the end, of a suitable turning tool.

stem 20 adjacent the upper face of the valve II. A'spring 22 which is positioned about the valve IIY between the collar 2I Yand lthe bushing I5- normally tendsto forcethe valve I 'I upwardly to establish communication between the lower and the upper ends of the tubular frame, and to render the bearing bushing I8 fluid tight when the valve is so openedv a `ring of packing Vmaterial 23 is provided on the'upper face of the collar 2I.

HIn Aaccordance with the present invention, meansV are provided to complete an electrical circuit when the valve is so opened, and to this end the upper end ofthe valve stem 28 is reduced andt'is'provided with a contact plate 24 which is maintained in place thereon by a pin 25. A con-v tact'member 49 ispositioned above the Contact plate` 24-and it is adapted and arranged to be engaged thereby when the valve'is opened. This contact member 49 comprises the head of a studv 50, the shank or unthreaded portion'of which is embedded ina block of insulating material 5I secured` to the tubular member II by a bolt52 and the threaded or end portion of which is securedto the positive side of an velectrical circuit by means of a suitable insulated conductor.

The valve I'I is normally maintained closed against the action of the 'spring 22 by a fusible element 28 which is positioned between the oppositely disposediends of the valve stem 20 and a stud 26 which is threaded'into a recess formed in the frame directly above the valve stem 20, and to prevent displacement of the fusible lelement its ends are tapered' and the oppositely dis-VV posed 'end faces of the valve stem 2l) and the stud 26 are slightly con'caved to receive the ta-l pered `ends of the fusible element; The head of therstud'ZI is provided with a plurality of holes 21 which are adapted to receive theend of a turning tool to permit adjustment 'of the stud when installing the fusible element. v

The fusible element 28 comprises an inverted U-shapedffemale "section 30', 'an inverted T shaped male section 32 and a connecting in# verted U-shaped central section'3I. 'The three sections are 'desirably pressed together,andto hold them in place 'the 'engaging edges of the male'and female sections are 'provided with ser. rations 33. The maleand female sections 30 and 32', `are adapted and arranged to remain unaffected by elevated temperatures, but the cnnecting central section 3I,'is adapted and arranged to 'fuse Vo r melt when the temperature i'ngthe vicinity thereof increases to a predetermined V' legree, and when the connecting central section` 3Ifdoes fuse or melt the inverted V 'l shapedmales`ection32 is forced 'upwardly int' The discharge A'Y collar 2I is secured, V- as by a pin 2Ia, to the lower end of the valve the inverted U-shaped female section 3U by the spring 22, as shown in Fig. 2. Under such conditions the force tending to maintain the valve closed against the action of the spring 22 is removed and, as a result, the valve is automatically opened.A While this type of fusible element is desirable, equally favorable results may be obtained with vothertype fusible elements, the essential feature in all cases being that the element shall normally maintain the valve closed against theaction ofthe spring and shall release the spring to open the valve when the temperature in the vicinitythereof increases to a predetermined section I3 terminates in a rev'versible discharge head 4I having a plurality of small discharge openings or ports 48 through which* the freextinguishing fluid is forced when thevalve I'I is open. In most instances it is dcsirablethat the fire extinguishing fluid be ejected eitherupwardly or downwardly, and for this reason the-outerface of the discharge head is rounded orV-shaped and the ports open therefrom between the top or bottom face, depending on the position of the head, and a horizontal line drawn through the center of the head. It is-evident, however, that equally favorable results may be obtained by other arrangements as, for example, by having the discharge ports open from a straight inclined face.

The discharge head 4I is removably connected to the discharge tubular section I3, and to this end the upper outer end of the discharge section I3 is reduced to form a shoulder 35. A ring of suitable vpacking material 39 is positioned on theA shoulder 35 ,and it carries a flanged clamping ringed on which the lower inner rim of the discharge head'4l rests. The upper inner rim of the discharge head 4I carries a similar flanged clamping ring 42 which, in turn, carries a similar ring of packing material 43. A plug 38 is threade'd into the upper end of the tubular section I3 and it 'serves to clamp the inner rims of the discharge head-4l between the clamping rings 48 and 42, and to maintain the inner rims of the discharge head in spaced relation a U-shaped annular spacing member 44 is positioned therebetween. The discharge section I3 and the U'shaped spacing member 44are provided with a plurality of openings 45 and 46 respectively to establish communication between4 the tubular member I3 and the headdI.

In"operation, wh'enthe temperature in the vicinity' of a `thermal valve increases toi a predetermined degree the central section 3I of the fusible element 28A melts, thereby releasing the spring 22'which-acts to force the valve I'I and the associated valve stem 20 upwardly. As the valve II is'forced--upwardly communication between the opposite ends of the tubular frame is established and as aresultthe rerextinguishing fluid, which is normally Amaintained `in the distribution pipe under-pressure, isforced upwardly through the lower ,tubular valve section I2, the two oppositely disposedV central members I0 and II, Vthe upper tubular discharge section I3, and thence outwarlly through the openings 45 and 46 into the discharge head 4If from whence it is forced outwardly., and .downwardly through the discharge ports 48,.-'`

n Asy the. valve vstern 20 is forced upwardly it carries the Contact plate 24 into engagement with the head o f th'e conducting stud 49 thereby completing anI electric circuit from the positive side through :the device to the distributor pipes which are connected to the negative side of the circuit. 'Ihe circuit thus closed may be utilized for a number of purposes as, for example, to ring an alarm or to start a compressor to supply pressure to the system.

In the event it is desired to have the fire extinguishing fluid forced outwardly and upwardly from the head, or in the event it is desired to have the valve open from the bottom of the distribution pipe and the reextinguishing fluid forced outwardly and downwardly therefrom, the discharge head M may be removed and reversed. Also, in the event it is desired to vary the quantity of fire extinguishing fluid which is discharged when the valve is open, the discharge head may be removed ,and replaced by a discharge head having a greater or less number of discharge openings or ports.

After a valve has been opened and it is desired to replace the fusible element to reclose the valve, the stud 2B is backed 01T to permit the insertion of the tapered ends of the fusible element between the oppositely disposed concaved ends of the screw 26 and the valve stem 25 after which the stud 26 is lowered to securely clamp the fusible element in place.

I claim:

1. A thermal valve comprising a tubular frame, one end of which contains a valve and the other end of which terminates in a reversible discharge head, and a fusible element normally maintaining said valve closed, said head being adapted and arranged to discharge a pluralityof streams upwardly beyond said valve when in one position and downwardly beyond said valve when the position thereof is reversed.

2. A thermal valve comprising a tubular frame, one end of which contains a valve and the other end of which terminates in a reversible discharge head, means normally tending to force said valve open to establish communication between the ends of said tubular frame, and a fusible element normally maintaining said valve closed against the action of said irst mentioned means, said head being adapted and arranged todischarge a plurality of streams upwardly beyond said thermal valve when in one position and downwardly beyond said thermal valve when the position thereof is reversed.

3. A thermal valve comprising a tubular frame, one end of which contains a valve and the other end of which terminates in a reversible discharge head, a spring normally tending to force said valve open to establish communication between the opposite ends of said tubular frame, and a fusible element normally maintaining said valve closed against the action of said spring, said head being adapted and arranged to discharge a plurality of streams upwardly beyond said thermal valve when in one position and downwardly beyond said thermal Valve when the position thereof is reversed.

4. In a thermal valve, the combination of a. plurality of U-shaped members which merge at their opposite ends into single end tubular sections, a valve positioned in one of said end sections, a valve stem carried by said valve and extending through the junction of the members which merge into the section in which said valve is positioned, an adjustable member positioned in the junction of the members which merge into the other of said end sections, ,a spring normally tending to force said valve open to establish communication between said end sections, and a fusible element for maintaining said valve closed against the action of said spring, said element being positioned between said valve stem and said adjustable member.

5. A thermal valve comprising two oppositely disposed tubular members which merge at their opposite ends into single end tubular sections, a reversible discharge head opening from one of said end sections, a valve positioned in the other of said end tubular sections, a valve stem carried by said valve and extending through the junction of the members which merge into the end section in which the valve is positioned, a stud positioned in the junction of the members which merge into the other of said end sections, a spring normally tending to force said valve open, and a fusible element for maintaining said valve closed against the action of said spring, said element being positioned between said valve stem and said stud.

JAY LAWRENCE SEAT. 

